Today is a great day. Its cloudy, cool, misting outside, nothing is on TV, my arm is aching and my stomach is a little upset from the antibiotics. So why a great day?

If you know anyone 'into' photography you gotta tell em about this blog, or wesite. What follows is super cool.

Many companies make photography bags, Tamarac, LowePro, Crumpler, etc. But the smartest, most logical, think of everything company Ive ever heard of is ThinkTankPhoto.

This is a company I can respect.

After a little hinting and verbal going-on-too-long-ness, I was able to convince my wife to get me the PERFECT backpack for traveling for the day or the week with my photo equipment. Its the Rotation 360

This may seems stupid and a lot of hype about a back pack, but its really cool!!

There is so much about it thats cool. Like the bottom part slides around to be ready for a shot without taking everything off etc. Thats its claim to fame i guess. But every piece has high quality zippers, rain gear, and quality material on the outside.

It has perfectly placed pockets, personal panels providing portable personalizeable protection this photographer pronounced this particularization prefaced primarily with PERFECT!!

spit that out 3 times.

Really though, i took all afternoon getting acquainted with its features. I can find fault. Even the fact that I'm a big guy this pack still fits.

The products can not be described as cheap, but could be extremely good value for the money.

Check them out ThinkTankPhoto

Another day in the green room done. This post i wont complain. no more IV no more tubes in my arm...just a splint and tensors. minimal pain, maximum boredom.

Could have been much worse. my roommate has some bigger issues. his wife is with him almost 24/7. he has numerous staples in 4 places in his head. they have 2 kids, Nicole and I gave them candy canes on Christmas. everyone has been big smiles ever since.

Doc Young said i can go home on Friday...ugg 2 more days...but like i said it could have been worse.

A funny thing happenned yesterday, a little girl maybe 4 and her dad came out of the elevator as i was nearby...the little girl looked at me with a puzzled look and asked "Santa Claus?"

what?? when did i start to look like santa claus...geez. maybe my red outfit and fuzzy slippers ave me away.

I have to say Nicole has been awesome with everything...like i said i have to say that.....just kidding...coincidentally she got me the perfect xmas gift an ASUS eee PC 8 GB.

Its basically a tiny laptop, 1 gb ram, 8gb HD, 7" screen, but fully functional.
its got a webcam,wifi, preloaded with open office, and skype and ton of other programs. And too boot its quite a bit cheaper than a reg laptop....so cool, and so useable...especially now.

well so long from the one armed santa claus.

part 2 ...DIY hospital

here is where my disappointment with the health care system comes in. imagine this, you can barely walk (sprained ankle) but you got to go the bathroom...but of course this arcane system can not provide you with bathroom tissue. wireless internet, and hours of surgery but not toilet paper.

the next day and i am thinking they must have me on a restricted diet....no i missed a couple meals because...they dont provide food!!! you change your own sheets, and pillow cases, and all injury dressings except for the surgery one. you also must go to the second floor to buy all your supplies as well including any tape you may need to hold the gauze to the wound.

medicine is left beside you in a sealed bag, which is hard to fight into with one arm broken and the opposite thumb sprained. and no water, thats down the hall turn right, go down that hall to the nurses station you can find a little fountain on the left. oh of course...sorry to bother you.

bring your own soap...or you will spread infections and will need to stay here for a much longer time.

now im gonna nit pick....the walls are stained and dirty from the many people before me. The bathroom walls are dirty with who knows what, there is mold growing on something in the corner beside my bed.

Language is an issue, even though one head nurse proudly told me they are becoming part of some international group. She said their english ability is very low....um ya i noticed, when i asked about toilet tissue and 2 nurses ran away giggling, and one was left to say...um....you ....family...bring.

thats all for know.

So here i am merry Christmas. I had a bit of an accident....well here is the full story.

I went to our great Christmas party from work. After the awesome meal i went home to my wife who was sick. i brought her some dinner, and since she was going to bed soon, i decided to go back out. I called a cab and met up with some of the other guys from work.

We stayed out till about midnight and the left...everyone was going home except one guy he asked if anyone wanted to go for coffee. I said sure and he drove ahead, i said id walk. so far so good.
I decided to jog and was doing well i went one block then 2 and decided to cut through a new park. well it was quite dark but i could easily see the other side and i could tell that there was no one else in the park.
I truck through and before i know it there is no more sidewalk under my foot, my right foot hits the concrete and twists. I fall with my full weight landing on my arm somehow.

im stunned, dazed, and in pain. i wiggle my feet...yup sore ankle but it moves, arm 1 ok arm 2......no oak.

so i phone the guy im meeting and told him. i picked myself up and hobbled to the street..he got a cab and i went to the hospital. i think cabs are safer, faster, and more caring than ambulances here.

so in the end my injuries, sprained right thumb, sprained right ankle, cut and deep scrapes on left knee, AND dislocated elbow with 5 breaks.

Now post surgery, with plates n screws in arm and elbow I'm slowly regaining strength.

next episode....this damn DIY hospital. you wont believe what isnt included.

Just FYI, Im having problems with the program to build my website, hence the lack of updates. I want to re create one with Adobe Dreamweaver, so if anyone has any experience let me know. I need some help with a few issues.

Otherwise all is well and here is a kwik pic for you.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!!!

Hmmm busy season coming up. Christmas, then New Years eve n day, then Nico's Birthday, then Chinese New year. All in a month and a half.

I was planning a trip to Cambodia, but tickets became impossible. then possible and now no problem but prices came out and I can fly to Canada for less money...stupid airlines.

But i did get a good offer on a flight to Bangkok. So Im thinking about Thailand now....hmmm sounds good. I didnt want to go with out Nico, but its either that or stay in Taiwan. And to stay in Taiwan by myself sounds lonely. Traveling sounds much better.

Just thought spew that useless info out there...Cambodia 90% out, and Thailand 90% in.